November 2010

November 30, 2010

Today's post is my 400th post! Yippee! It really doesn't mean anything but whatever I like even numbers... Moving on, I decided I was going to make this holiday banner. It think they are so sweet and I wanted to give it a whirl. I finished the project in about 2 hours. Which is surprising to me because I didn't have any sort of guide and that usually spells disaster for me.

I added a few video tutorials below if you want to see how I made it. If not just enjoy my photos (they sort of stink). I ran out of batteries on my off camera flash but you get the picture... If I have enough time I'm going to make a similar banner for the tree (which has not been decorated yet). The fun thing about these banners is you can make personalized ones for holidays, birthdays and parties. I'm so excited it was so easy!

I didn't go into great detail so if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

November 29, 2010

So if you follow my blog you know that I've been wanting to change the direction of my business or at least add another type of photography to my business. It's at times felt like a slow process but I'm moving forward so it's been a good thing. I guess about a week ago I created the beginnings of the new site. It's still in it's infancy and I will make some changes. However it's there and it's live for the whole world to see! Check it out! This division of my business is simply named, Vikki COLVIN photography.

I will have an art opening in March here in Tempe where my work will be on display and up for sale. The opening will have a never before seen series of 10-12 photos. I have my concept for the photos but have not figured out exactly how it will all work out. I will keep you posted... My palms are getting sweaty just thinking about it!

This pair was black and white, so I had to do something different here.

My photography has created some pretty cool opportunities for me. I've been asked to photograph things I would of never of planned on doing on my own. It's been really good for me because it's always a new learning experience. I enjoy trying to find ways to make a photo feel fresh and interesting. Plus to get action photos you need models able to do some cool stuff and hold it long enough for a photo "showing" the shoe.

Above are some photos I did for, Core Crossfit promoting the shoes that are offered at the gym. In the next few weeks they will be offering new colors only Crossfit affiliates will be carrying so I'm exited to do some work on those photos as well. I'm doing some research (sounds very interesting, right?) for those photos. I want a different look then the ones we did here. I may try some new photography techniques if all goes as planned. Stay tuned.

November 28, 2010

This weekend I was able to get out and do some shooting with fall color! I've been looking for the right spot to get some colorful photos, which is hard to do when you live in a desert. I wish I had more time but I'm really happy with what I got.

I even got a session in with an old friend and his family I had not met yet. They hiked in to met me and little Audrey was such a good baby and model.

I love this photo for so many reasons. First the location is what I've been dreaming about! Too bad my battery for my big light was in the shop (returning to me on Monday- yippee). I was still able to get some with my small flash and natural light that I love. Another reason why I love it is because lil' Kamry looks like a sitting duck. She was so excited to do this photo and we had so much fun doing it! After this photo we all took turns sitting only to be showered in leaves. And in case you didn't notice that sky is too beautiful!

November 23, 2010

Just this week we started reading Christmas books before bedtime. My parents buy all their grand kids tons of books. I asked my Mom maybe a year ago to buy Seasonal books for Presley. I thought it would be fun to bring different books out for different times of the year. Not only would it make an event out of bring out books but hopefully keep them exciting and in good shape.

Sometimes while I read books to her I'll ask her to look at the picture and tell me what's going on before I read that page to her (I was this was good for them when learning to read). Some of the books she has memorized so she reads to me... Last night we were reading 'Twas the night before Christmas. I read the first page, "...when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."

This first page had a picture of a fire place a christmas tree and a cat and dog sleeping. I don't think she was able to put the story together yet... She took the book from me and wanted to read it to me. She says back to me, "and at the house a monster was cooking with a mouse". It took me just a minute to realize what she had done. She picked out a few key words, "creature and stirring" and created what she thought the story was about... When I was kissing her good night, She told me when she closes her eyes she can't see candy dancing (visions of sugar plums danced in their heads). And wanted to know why Santa didn't just use the door?

I just love how her mind works and how exciting this season has been already. This is the first year she really understands that Santa brings her gifts... Yeah, I put a tree in her room last weekend and I've had to explain Santa isn't coming until Christmas.

November 18, 2010

Hmm. This week I watched a film (documentary) about how our schools are failing our kids and threatening the future of our country (literally). The movie itself was a real tear jerker and thought provoking. As I was sitting there something occurred to me that had never before (I'll get back to that).

In the film they spoke about how high schools have tracks set up for students. I'm not 100% clear on how the decision is made, but kids are placed in different tracks. These tracks were set up years ago. Some tracks are set for kids better equipped for factory type jobs. Other tracks are for kids set to be doctors and lawyers, or in other words college bound kids.

As the movie told a story of a particular girl my heart hurt for her. If she didn't get into a particular charter school (based on a lottery because there are not enough placing for all kids applying) she will be sent to a high school where she will be set in the lower track. She will graduate high school but will not have the same level of education as some of her classmates. She has low test scores but big dreams...

What I began to realize was when I entered high school I was placed (not sure if it was testing or grades) in classes that were at a lower level than most of my friends (in my grade level). At the time I was relieved because I was afraid I wouldn't pass Biology or Calculus. When I did go to college I had to take one or two remedial classes (I can't remember now)before I could even get into ENG 101.

This bothers me. I'm bothered because a decision was made when I was 13 years old that I couldn't learn those skills. I did go on to finish college with a lot of tutoring and professors that allowed me to test alone because I couldn't focus in a classroom with 300 students. College was a huge struggle for me and I didn't finish in four years.

I almost based my major on the degree that required the least amount of math. To this day I'm thankful to my friend Keri who told me not to do that. In my circle of friends I was the oldest and watched all of them graduate. Seeing them graduate helped me feel I could do it. This makes me think of kids who don't know anyone who finished college and find it impossible to do. We have set them up for failure.

Had I been placed in those higher classes, I mostly likely would not of passed without help. In the charter schools in this movie, the kids were able to catch up to their peers and learn what is expected of a proficient high school graduate. The schools made sure those struggling students got the help they needed.

Why is this our problem? Because when this system was put in place a college degree was not required to make a decent living. In this global economy if you don't have a college degree, there are a lot less choices. We can't keep complaining that other countries are taking our jobs if we don't educate our kids...

As always don't take my word for it. Check out the movie, look online and talk to your friends. I want to thank my excellent teachers and mentors, Mrs. Lindsey and Professor Lanquist for showing interest in my success.

November 15, 2010

I put together a vision board (first photo) to help remind me what some of my goals are and hung it in my office. I had something similar to this on my wall next to my computer (second photo). I may now organize that wall of stuff similarly to my vision board project.

The stuff on my wall before the visions board was more of a celebration of the things I'd done (mostly). I hung, thank you notes, lists of lens I love, photos of mine, photos of others I admired (I moved those on to my vision board), Presley's drawing, her Boston Tee Party invitation (it was a tee ball theme). My cousin's skateboarding sticker COLVINETICS (he was sponsored back in the day) and a few of my ads and the Christmas card I made a few years ago. And my friend the Attorney's card, I kept losing his information!

I usually get every easily distracted, in case you haven't noticed I like shiny things. My friend and her husband call it, "Oh look a bird" syndrome or something like that- I forget. They explain it as you're talking to that person deep in conversation and then they're like, "Oh look a bird" and you lost them!

I've made a few goals to work towards an upgrade in my camera and a lens by December. However, I keep getting distracted. Hence the photo of Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen, AHH! I'm not going to go buy that outfit ($$$) but I have figured out how to recreate it (jacket by J.crew $250. shoes I bought recently and tutu dress American Apparel $80.) What a fun holiday outfit, right? Hmm...

So the vision board is here to keep me focused (focus, focus, focus). The stuff that made it on my vision board are things I like quilts (I need to make more quilts), the ocean, rooms decorated in white and pale blue and quotes, "the world is round, but it's worth double checking". The famous people are on there either because I admire their body, outfit or the photo it self. As for the young Paul Newman, he just rocks. There is a camera, a horse and a bottle of Coke (guilty pleasure). There are still a few things missing on my vision board, but I'll add them as I find them.

November 14, 2010

This weekend I got to work on some photos I had been thinking about for some time now. It took me about 30 minutes to get this shot (above). We were in a perfectly lit room at 10AM this morning. I used my lighting and a grid spot to fade all the other light out and direct this light. It's sort of hard to get a real sense of the shot because of the way I cropped it. I really liked the veins popping on his neck so I edited this way... I'm excited to do more stuff like this...

Ok can I just tell you how much I love my nephew. He's the most loving and thoughtful Colvin (insert smiley face here). I just adore him and love the fact he can rock a pull up (and I haven't yet). He's always game for a photo and I'll always want to take it!

November 13, 2010

This morning when I woke up I read that Aung San Suu Kyi was released from prison (house arrest). I first heard about her and her struggle with her country from a U2 song in 2000. The song, Walk On was written for her and the album was dedicated to her. It's a favorite U2 song of mine and when I learned more about her, the lyrics really took on a deeper meaning.

I then read a book about her to learn more about her struggle, she is a noble peace prize winner. At the time I imagined I would at some point have a library (a small one) in my house. On the walls there would be photos of people I wanted my family (I thought I would have more kids at that time) to learn about. A few of the others that made the cut, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King and Pat Tillman...

Her release comes at a time when my frustration with my country's political landscape is high. I've been tossing around the idea of not watching t.v. and really limiting my reading of political stories. I didn't want to stop reading entirely because I thought that would be giving up... Anyway, so after I read this story it gave me a little more patience. I may not like the way U.S. politics work but it's better then many other people have... I still may stop watching t.v. but I have a higher appreciation for the system...

A few notes on the words below, I wasn't going to post all the lyrics but they're all so great. The line, "you could of flown away, a singing bird in an open cage, who will only fly, only fly for freedom". You see her husband and children where not in Burma (Myanmar) with her and the junta would not allow them to enter the country. They would allow her (on house arrest)to leave but she feared they would not let her return... I could go on and on. She has a very compelling story and it's worth reading about. Today I'm hopeful for her and her country.

Walk On Lyrics:

And love is not the easy thing The only baggage that you can bring...And love is not the easy thing...The only baggage you can bring Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off And if your glass heart should crack And for a second you turn back Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on What you got they can't steal it No they can't even feel it Walk on, walk on...Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been A place that has to be believed to be seen You could have flown away A singing bird in an open cage Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

And I know it aches And your heart it breaksAnd you can only take so much Walk on, walk on

Home... hard to know what it is if you've never had one Home... I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home That's where the heart is

and I know it aches How your heart it breaks And you can only take so much Walk on, walk on

Leave it behind You got to leave it behind All that you fashion All that you make All that you build All that you break All that you measure All that you feel All this you can leave behind All that you reasonAll that you sense All that you speakAll you dress-up All that you scheme...

November 11, 2010

This morning Presley didn't have school because of the Holiday. She wanted to go for a stroll around 7AM something this cold fighting Mommy didn't really want to do. Finally I gave in and we headed to the lake for a stroll. Once there I realized there was going to be a parade on Mill and we should stick around to see it.

One thing we found out is if it's a parade that is suppose to start at 9:00AM it won't start until about 10 minutes after 10:00AM. Good thing bubbles make it easy to make friends! Presley had a blast with a few of the other kids waiting for the parade to honor our war heros to begin.

The entire time I was waiting for the event, during the event and for most of the day I was bother by the fact that 1 in 3 homeless adults were veterans. Many of them struggle with PTSD, alcohol and drug abuse. And there is a risk of about 1.5 million other veterans, becoming homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing...

I live in an area where we have many homeless people. Over the past year several of them that I had seen as "regulars" are now gone. One guy always carried a coffee cup and backpack. I'd seen him pull the cups out of the trash can, I think it was his attempt to look like he was just walking the streets like the rest of us. I'd try to give him money and food before, aways he declined. He had lost so much weight this past summer I wondered if he had become ill or was hurt by others (violence amongst homeless is high). He use to sleep near the lake and I haven't seen any sign of him.

But other then the "regulars" I usually find myself bothered by the smell, the drunkenness and some times scared of them. One woman who carries her belonging in a pillow case looked at me (and Presley) and started cursing at me for touching her, I was 10 feet away. She's been gone for a while now too. I knew a lot of homeless people suffer from mental illness (I learned that in college). But growing up in Safford (small town America) we didn't have homeless people. I didn't really know how to feel about them, sick or not.

I don't have a light bulb moment after the events of today. I do know that I want to have the compassion for the homeless (that I've felt for a few) for all homeless. Because truthfully I maybe a part of a society that failed them.

For more information and ways to help homeless veterans in your area visit www.nchv.org.